It’s caused him some grief but has also made him one of the best goaltending coaches and evaluators in the world over the past 30-plus years.

“He doesn’t worry about what other people think,” head coach Gerard Gallant said. “He does it his way and that’s the best way to do it. Sometimes he pisses people off but that’s the way Dave is and we love him for it.”

Prior has helped many goalies to the best seasons of their lives, including Marc-Andre Fleury last season in Vegas, and his approach to the position is so contrasting from others because of his unique path.

It started in 1974 when an 18-year-old Prior was so nervous he wouldn’t make his high school football team that he skipped class and snuck into the athletic corridor to check the posted roster alone.